MARCH MADNESS: EAST

Preview: Top-seeded Kentucky and freshman sensation John Wall cast a long shadow over the East bracket, though they’ll need to play better than they did against Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament Final in order to advance. West Virginia, the No. 2 seed, has the most momentum after winning the Big East title in dramatic fashion over the weekend. The East is a top-heavy bracket, with a significant gap in talent between the top two seeds, No. 3 New Mexico and No. 4 Wisconsin.

Indy Bound: Kentucky remains the clear favourite, though West Virginia may be the strongest No. 2 seed in the tournament. If both teams make it to the Elite Eight, an upset is definitely not out of the question.

Dark Horse: Earlier this season, Texas held the top spot in the rankings, but now sit in the No. 8 spot, playing a dangerous No. 9 in Wake Forest. Whichever of these teams survives the first round might be a serious threat to Kentucky in the second round. The No. 5 vs. No. 12 is always prime territory for an upset, and Ivy League champion Cornell might just have the skills needed to surprise Temple’s stingy defense.